Grief for Christmas

AS most people make final preparations for Christmas, three families are planning funerals for murder victims who were killed in separate attacks.

The victims are Quillon Hudson, 30, of La Romaine, Akeem Martin, 27, who lived in St Joseph and De-Shawn Parson, 20, a Point Fortin resident.

At 11.15 pm, on Friday night police received a report of a shooting in the squatters village Bangladesh, along the Priority Bus Route, St Joseph.

Martin, who was from Railway Road, was in the village when two gunmen shot him. They escaped in a car. Martin, who was on gun-related charges, was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope where doctors declared him dead.

Almost one hour earlier, police reported that Hudson and his friends were liming on Pearl Street, La Romaine, at about 10.30 pm, when a car pulled up in front of them. A man got out and shot Hudson who was taken to San Fernando General Hospital where he died undergoing emergency surgery.

Hudson was a father of two. Relatives said he had spent the last few days trimming plants and cleaning his house for Christmas.

A relative, who did not want to be named, said Hudson had recently turned his life around. “Yes, he done things in the past but he had changed. He was baptised and started going to church. But his only problem was he still he kept liming with the wrong company,” said the relative.

The relative said there is a war between rival gangs and believed Hudson was friend with a member of one gang which led to his death.

In the third case, police said at about 2 am yesterday, Parson was liming with friends and they went to buy burgers at a cart on Point Fortin Main Road

As Parson was about to place his order, a group of men ran towards him and his friends and began pelting bottles at them. The men then pulled out knives and began to stab the friends.

Parson was stabbed to the back of his head, shoulder and back. His friends, Lennox Joseph and his son Kerdel Joseph, were stabbed in their hands and head. They were taken to the Point Fortin Area Hospital where they were treated and later discharge.

When Parson’s father Darran, 43, arrived at the hospital he collapsed on seeing his body. He had to be quickly taken to another room where he was treated and later discharged. “I could not believe it when I saw my son’s body there. I started to feel dizzy and I fell to the ground at the hospital,” Darran said.

“I am not going to lie to you. Some parents would say that their bad son is a good boy. But no it was not like that with my son. He was one of the most kindest young man you would ever meet. I was looking forward to spend Christmas with him, now he is not here.”

Also in tears was Parson’s mother, Texcita Marcano, 39, who said she could not believe her son was dead. “Yesterday we were painting together preparing for Christmas. Look the bucket of paint is still there outside. He told me he was going to finish paint the rest of the house on Sunday. Oh God, no!”

Marcano said she was told by an eyewitness that her son’s killer not only stabbed him but carved through the back of his head with the knife. “What kind of people are these men?”

Parson would have celebrated his 21st birthday next month. Up to press time five men were detained by police in connection with Parson’s murder. Police are also reviewing CCTV footage from cameras. No one has yet been arrested in the other two killings. Autopsies would be done at the Forensic Science Centre, St James tomorrow. An unofficial count puts the murder rate at 515.